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  CleaningUSPTO Application #: 20070254824Title: Cleaning Abstract: A liquid cleaning composition and a solid state catalyst are provided in combination. The solid state catalyst causes a chemical reaction in the liquid cleaning composition, when the liquid cleaning composition is brought into contact with it. The chemical reaction may increase the oxidising power of the liquid cleaning composition, or change its pH, or cause gas evolution, or release heat. (end of abstract)
Agent: Norris, Mclaughlin & Marcus - New York, NY, US Inventors: Mark Coke, Paul John Duffield, Malcolm Tom McKechnie, Jane Wauwick, Matthew White, James Young USPTO Applicaton #: 20070254824 - Class: 510406000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Cleaning Compositions For Solid Surfaces, Auxiliary Compositions Therefor, Or Processes Of Preparing The Compositions, Cleaning Compositions Or Processes Of Preparing (e.g., Sodium Bisulfate Component, Etc.), Liquid Composition, Packaged Or Gas-propelled Composition The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070254824. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This invention relates to improvements in or relating to cleaning, in particular, but not exclusively, to improvements in the cleaning of bodies, for example hard surfaces and fabrics. [0002] One problem with existing cleaning compositions is that their cleaning performance can be modest against certain soils. It is known that especially tenacious soils include red wine, turmeric and blood. [0003] One effective method of tackling tenacious stains on fabrics is to soak them in a pre-treatment composition, for example a dispersion of sodium percarbonate, before the fabrics are machine washed. That dispersion is formed shortly before use by mixing a powder formulation of sodium percarbonate, together with a bleach activator, into water, in order to decompose the sodium percarbonate. [0004] This method is effective and successful but it is not suitable for all situations; and it may be inconvenient for people to make up a treatment solution and apply it to a soil as an extra step in a laundering process. [0005] Furthermore, it is known that different soils need different cleaning treatments for optimal effectiveness. For example, greasy soils are typically dealt with most effectively by alkaline cleaning compositions; limescale is most effectively dealt with by acidic cleaning compositions; and so on. Thus, bathroom cleaners are often acidic compositions, intended to combat calcium deposits. On the other hand, kitchen cleaners are often alkaline compositions, intended to combat grease deposits. However, there are situations in which for bathroom cleaning, an alkaline composition would be desirable; and in which for kitchen cleaning, an acidic cleaning composition would be desirable. [0006] Accordingly the consumer has to decide whether to purchase a plethora of different products for different cleaning tasks, or whether to compromise. It would be of benefit to have a single cleaning composition which has a good level of effectiveness against more than one soil type. [0007] It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide cleaning technology which offers some advantage over the methods described above. [0008] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cleaning combination comprising a liquid cleaning composition and a solid state catalyst separate from the liquid cleaning composition, the solid state catalyst causing a chemical reaction in the liquid cleaning composition when the liquid cleaning composition is brought into contact with the solid state catalyst. [0009] The word "cleaning" in this specification includes within its meaning soil removal, soil bleaching, and the prevention of soil deposition. By "soil" we include all undesired deposits and stains, including populations of microorganisms. "Cleaning" in this specification also includes sanitizing (including killing and inhibiting undesired viruses and microorganisms, including bacteria, and combating allergens, especially Der-p and Der-f dust mite allergens). [0010] The chemical reaction may be a decomposition of a component of the liquid cleaning composition, catalysed by the solid state catalyst. Alternatively the chemical reaction may be a reaction between two components of the liquid cleaning composition, catalysed by the solid state catalyst. Alternatively the chemical reaction may be a reaction between a component of the liquid cleaning composition and a species present in the environment of use, for example oxygen or water, this reaction being catalysed by the solid state catalyst. Alternatively the chemical reaction may be a reaction with a second liquid cleaning composition, part of the cleaning combination but separate from the liquid cleaning composition until use of the cleaning combination, this reaction being catalysed by the solid state catalyst. In this embodiment the solid state catalyst may be separate from the second liquid cleaning composition until use or it may be in contact therewith. [0011] The solid state catalyst may be of a type to catalyse each molecular event of the chemical reaction. Preferably, however, the catalyst is of a type to initiate the chemical reaction, which may then continue, and preferably escalate. The chemical reaction may then continue even in the absence of the solid state catalyst. For example in the case of an exothermic reaction the heat produced may promote the continuation of the reaction. [0012] Percentage values of components expressed in this specification are expressed as % wt of a component/wt of composition, unless stated otherwise. [0013] By "liquid" herein we mean flowable under normal use conditions. Thus "liquid" may include a lotion or cream. [0014] By solid state catalyst, we mean a catalyst which is comprised by a body. The catalyst may be retained on the surface of the body; it may be comprised within the material of the body; or the material of the body may itself be catalytic. [0015] The solid state catalyst may be comprised by the body permanently or semi-permanently. By semi-permanently, we mean that the catalyst species may progressively separate from the body during repeated phases of operation, in which the liquid cleaning composition is brought into contact with the solid state catalyst. In such an embodiment the body preferably comprises a catalytically effective amount of catalyst throughout the intended life. For example, when a catalyst is semi-permanently retained on a cleaning cloth, there should still be a catalytically effective amount of catalyst on the cloth at the end of the cloth's useful life. As another example, when the solid state catalyst is located in an exit pathway of a trigger spray pump device, there should be a catalytically effective amount of catalyst present when the device is exhausted of its liquid cleaning composition. [0016] The liquid cleaning composition is preferably a ready-to-use composition, not requiring the addition of water or any other material, and is stable until it is used, when it is brought into contact with the solid state catalyst. [0017] In preferred embodiments of the invention the cleaning is achieved against a soil already present at the locus of treatment. [0018] The body which comprises the catalyst could in certain embodiments be a particulate body, for example of siliceous grains or polymeric beads. Preferably, however, the body is a non-particulate body. Preferably a non-particulate body is a monolithic body. [0019] Preferably, the combination is such that, in a cleaning operation, the liquid cleaning composition is in contact with, for example flows over or through, the solid state catalyst. To this end the solid state catalyst may be retained in a fixed position, in a device which preferably also contains the liquid cleaning composition. Preferably the solid state catalyst is downstream of the liquid cleaning composition, and the liquid cleaning composition is in contact with the solid state catalyst as it exits the device. [0020] Preferably, the solid state catalyst is one in which the catalyst is permanently retained on the surface of a body by a surface treatment, without being compounded within the material of the body. [0021] Embodiments are not ruled out, however, in which a catalyst is present throughout the body, having been incorporated into its material during its manufacture. For example a catalyst could be incorporated into a polymeric material or a glass or ceramic material. It could be incorporated into a block which has multiple pores or flow paths therethrough; for example an open-celled foam material. [0022] The body may be loaded with the catalyst in a conventional manner, for example by chemical reaction onto the body; or with the aid of a chemical anchoring agent, having an affinity for the body and the catalyst (for example a layer of a chelating agent); or by means of an adhesive or a binder which is unaffected by the liquid cleaning composition; or by sputtering, or by firing or calcination, in case of glass or ceramic bodies; or by electrostatic powder coating; or by anodizing; or by plasma treatment. Preferably the method is one in which a body is formed and then modified in its surface chemistry, to retain the catalyst. [0023] Of course the manner in which the solid state catalyst is formed depends on the material of the body and the nature of the catalyst. The formation of solid state catalysts is an extensive art and it is not necessary in this specification to draw from it extensively, and go beyond the guidance given above. [0024] The body could, for example, be a polymeric (including elastomeric, and including foamed), glass or ceramic material, or could be of wood, metal or stone. It could be a textile material. Continue reading... Full patent description for Cleaning Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Cleaning patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Cleaning or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Tripe-bleaching composition Next Patent Application: Enhanced self-warming cleaning products Industry Class: Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions therefor, or processes of preparing the compositions ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Cleaning patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 2.90723 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , |
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